Family escape as fire sweeps through home

The fire started in a car parked near the house. Photo / Richard Robinson

Three boys and their grandparents ran from their burning Mangere East home as flames billowed and smoke blackened the neighbourhood yesterday.

Smoke was so dense on Chelburn Cres that fire crews had to sound their horns to warn people they were coming down the road about 1.45pm.

Brothers Tim, Dexter and Oscar Ulugia, aged 16, 13 and 6, all escaped injury, as did their grandparents.

Fire staff were able to retrieve most valuables from the house, the front half of which was gutted. It is not known whether the family were insured.

Mangere station officer Ewen McRae said the fire was "well involved" when crews arrived, but was contained within 10 minutes. It appeared to have begun in a car parked at the side of the house. He said the alarms in the house were not working.